Island Hopping: Isles deSaintes, Guadeloupe, Antigua/Barbuda

Stef leading a science class on the beach. Cocoa Point, Barbuda

We hopped up the islands from the Saintes, Guadeloupe, to Antigua/Barbuda. The Saintes are full of mooring balls, so we sailed by and headed on up to Pigeon island, off of Guadeloupe. This is one of Jacque Cousteau's underwater parks. The snorkeling area is better in deeper water, as any shallow areas were destroyed in the hurricanes.
We met up with some friends in Deshaies for a fun night out exploring the town and stocking up on a few fresh provisions. Next morning found us setting sail for Antigua.

Antigua

Approaching Antigua treats the eyes to beautiful shades of blue water. We entered Jolly Harbor and dropped the hook in about 2 meters. It's a bright shade of turquoise, but murky.

Kids playing in the water, Jolly Harbor.

Keep in mind there are A LOT of boats in this harbor, but the check in/out is easiest here. There is a large grocery store that has a pretty good selection. Shop like a local to avoid a huge bill. Chicken was the cheapest we've seen since the states.

Grocery shopping in Antigua (Jolly Harbor)

Check in was a simple process. The first part is completed online via Sailclear, and then the rest in person at the customs office. We spent about a week sailing around Antigua and moved on to Barbuda. This island, by far, was our favorite!

At anchor of Barbuda.

The anchorage at Cocoa Point is protected, lovely, and not crowded at all! Wild horses and donkeys roam the beach. The sand is pinkish and so soft! It's quite a long stretch of sand, so there's plenty of room for the kids to run and play. We had sundowners on the beach with friends each night. One afternoon, Stef lead a science class on the beach and later on that evening, we had a BBQ. The kids also built their own little fire to make s'mores.

Beach BBQ with our buddy boats.

The area is now under development, with multi-million dollar lots up for sale. We were glad we got to see it before this construction begins. Such a shame that future generations will not get to enjoy the wild beauty that Barbuda offers.

Roundabout at anchor, with Hermes (our trusty dinghy) anchored off the beach.

We moved to the other end of the island near the town for a night, just to check it out and explore a new place. There's a cool sand spit you can walk out on, adjacent to the lagoon. Lots of conch shells, hermit crabs, and turtles hang out here.

Morning walk along the beach on the coast of Barbuda.

Checking out of Antigua (Barbuda does not have a customs office yet, as they are still in recovery after the hurricanes): you need to clear out online and then visit customs. Any crew under the age of 12 has to pay 75EC (this was unexpected). After customs, visit immigration and then back to customs.


We hoisted the sails and set our course for St. Bart's.

Science lab:Acids and Bases

Supplies (my vinegar is in a spray bottle, as I use it for cleaning)

Here is a fun and easy lab to learn about acids and bases. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your galley / kitchen. I've modified it a little for homeschool use.



Materials:

white paper
scissors
pencils, crayons, colored pencils
*science journal (optional)

1 Red cabbage for indicator solution (Boil the head of red cabbage in water for approximately 10 minutes, let the liquid sit until cool. Pour into a large pitcher.  This can be made ahead of time and stored for one week in the fridge).

Boiling cabbage to make the indicator solution.

a few clear containers (whatever you have on hand, such as tupperware, glasses, etc).
•pH scale chart (print out one you like online, laminated, or placed inside a clear plastic bag)
•pH paper strips (see list of resources for making your own pH paper strips down below) *optional

Substances to test:

lemon juice (can also test lime, orange, or other citrus fruits)
baking soda
white vinegar
marina water or the water in the anchorage
your boat's water-maker water
dish soap
clear soda (can also be soda water)
(feel free to add to this--ask the kids, they always come up with different things to test, such as toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc).

Vocabulary: acid, base, neutralize, precipitate, pH, scale, substance, indicator

Asking Questions: What do you know about acids and bases?

Plan and carry out the investigation: what materials will you need to conduct this lab? What other materials would you add or substitute?

Conduct the experiment:

1. Using a clean sheet of white paper, draw the number of sections correlating to the number of substances you will be testing. See example.

My daughter's example testing mat

2. Take a clear container and add a small amount of the indicator substance (cabbage juice). Draw a picture of the control (cabbage juice before you add a substance to it). Note the color.

Indicator solution.

3. Next,  add the first substance you are going to test. Record any changes to the indicator. Use the pH paper and dip it into the substance. Compare the pH paper to the pH chart and record the number.  Set the used testing strip next to the label on your sheet of paper.

This was the color after adding the first substance we were testing (in this case, lemon juice).

Substance tested:_________   Color when added to the indicator:___________ pH level:__________ Observations/Illustrations:

4. Next test: use a different clear container or you can simply empty the container you used for the first substance into the sink and rinse it out well. Then add more of the cabbage juice to the container. Next, add the second substance you are testing. Record your observations. Note the changes in your observations.

Second substance we tested (in this case, baking soda)

Substance tested:_________   Color when added to the indicator:___________ pH level:__________ Observations/Illustrations:


5. Repeat the above for the remaining substances you are going to test.

Analyze data, interpret observations:

What happened to the indicator when an acid was added?

What happened to the indicator when a base was added?

What happened to the indicator when tap water was added?

Questions, planning further investigations, creating a model: 

How can you apply the knowledge gained from this investigation to our planet? For example, think about your local watershed and how pollution may be impacting it. Write your thoughts here:

Focus questions:
1. If the pH of the ocean becomes more acidic or basic, what might happen to the flora (plant life) and fauna (animals)?

2. Why would a higher or lower pH level in a local river indicate a problem with the watershed?


Resources:  Here are some extra resources to help make this lab successful (without spending a lot of money).


 1. Making your own pH paper (you can do this ahead of time or along with your kids as a separate activity!

Here is how I did it on the boat:
1. Cut the white paper into strips as shown.

Preparing the strips.

2. After making the indicator solution, pour some into a bowl and toss in the strips. Make sure they soak at least 20 minutes. Take out and set on a paper towel to dry overnight. They will be ready to use the next day.

Soaking the strips in indicator solution.

Setting them out to dry. The color will lighten up a bit.

A couple of other resources I found:

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryhowtoguide/ht/makephpaper.htm

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Homemade-pH-Paper-Test-Strips

Litmus paper: Mostly made from wood cellulose. Easier to purchase than to make. *You don’t have to use litmus paper for this activity. You can use pH paper with great results.

 2. Brain Pop video and lesson activities about the pH scale:

http://www.brainpop.com/science/matterandchemistry/phscale/preview.weml

3. Chem4Kids.com : http://www.chem4kids.com/files/react_acidbase.html    4. Chemistryforkids.net: http://www.chemistryforkids.net/help/ph-scale


 4. Environmental Protection Agency  extensions

 http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/measure/ph.html

 http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/index.html


Copyright © 2018 Stefanie Pechan  All rights reserved by author.


For the full write up of the lesson plan photos, and student worksheet packet: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrspechan 

No commercial use without written consent from the author: contact@mrspechan.com